For some of the looks I talked about in part 4 of this series I will do a new tutorial, for some others I’m going to refer you to some old tutorials, simply because I don’t have the time to do ALL these looks right now and I think some of these tutorials I’d just redo for this series.
When applying makeup, consider you’re if probably going to shed a tear. If you think you will, go ahead and use more waterproof products then you would normally.
Use only corner lashes, this creates a sultry look but doesn’t cast shadows under your eyes if the lighting is coming mostly from above.
I know this sounds owfull, but try and not use a high SPF on a wedding day, this is because of the (flash)photography, this gives you an odd grey tint and that’s horrible on pictures, so again, when testing your makeup, take pictures in sunlight, “night-light” and using a flash to see it in all the lightings you’ll meet that day.
Also remember, you look most beautiful when you’re enjoying yourself and smiling, so don’t worry about how you look all the time…. if you have lipstick on your teeth, a cute guy will just tell you and you can rub it off and smile at him asking if it’s all gone. You can even go on and flirt and ask him to keep an eye out for you if he’s interested 
Jennifer Hudson is an amazing woman! She’s comfortable in her own skin and has amazing skin as well. I did a few looks that remind me of these looks Jennifer has worn:
The key to her makeup is using a semi-matte foundation and a slight shimmer on the high planes of her face where she wants to shine.
From all the looks I’ve done in the past years, I believe these should give you sufficient information to recreate a look similar to these. (I’m reposting some of the older tutorials I did, but I’m changing some of the texts to update them for the Wedding series.)
Naked (eye makeup tutorial)
Every great neutral face and eye starts with a cleaned and moisturized face, it’s spring/summer right now so the moisturizer is extremely important. In this warm weather people sweat and that means salt crystals on the skin, that plus the burning sun create an easily dehydrated skin. I’ve been using Shiseido’s The Skincare Range’s Day Moisture Protection SPF 15 (at night I use their Night Moisture Recharge Light) as my daily moisturizer and I also use Estee Lauder’s Daywear Plus Multi Protection Anti-Oxidant Lotion SPF 15 I love using different moisturizers depending on what my skin needs, the Shiseido moisturizer is a little richer and the Estee Lauder moisturizer smells sooo summery 
and feels so light. The eye cream I’m using is by Elizabeth Arden’s PREVAGE® Eye Anti-aging Moisturizing Treatment.
Because I’m someone who doesn’t suntan I always stay pretty light. I do however hate looking pasty pale when everyone around me has a healthy glow, I found a way to make me instantly tan (depending on how much you put on your face) and it’s streakless and very easy to apply. This Clinique (click the image to go to the website) Self Sun face bronzing gel tint is a product I heard about on youtube when Pixiwoo was raving about it and I HAD to buy it and I love it.
I always apply this all over my face when I need a bit of a tan (taking extra care around the hairline) bringing it down my neck and then blending it out. I never apply this over my eyelids because I don’t think this is great for the eye area and if you blend it properly you just have brighter eyes which is something we all try to achieve with makeup. Having moisturized beforehand means you can blend this better and it’s not a flaky application. Do remember to scrub your face every couple of days when you’re using self tanner. 
I LOVE this Smashbox Illuminating Serum which isn’t sold separately. You can only get this in the Master’s Class Vol. 4 Rescue Beauty kit sold at Sephora.com (click on the picture to go to the website). Chanel also sell an amazing Hydrating Serum, so try that one if you can afford it. 
This serum gives you a NATURAL healthy glow and wearing it alone makes your skin look perfect and not shiny or shimmery. Wearing it under a tinted moisturizer makes it a little less glowy but still naturally healthy, under a foundation it’s a minimal glow, but you can use it on top of your foundation as a highlighter on top of your cheekbones. I always work from the centre of the face blending outward because I want the most of the glow to be in the centre (the lit from within look). This tube contains rose extract and hyaluronic acid to moisturise and revive the complexion. The tube has a great “nozzle” to give you the pea size amount you need for your entire face. 
I told you about the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer that I love this summer because it seems to eat my shiny-ness. I tell you more about it here.
It applies a little “stiffer” then the Smashbox Primer I love, but it does wonders for my shine this summer, so I’m loving it.
My skin looks pretty amazing now, but I still want it to look a little more perfect so I’m using the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer I talk about in this post. The colour I’m wearing is Sand. 
This tinted moisturizer is pigmented enough to give me a perfect complexion. I seriously need no more coverage. When going to a wedding, try not to look like you plastered your face with makeup, it’s not pretty, believe me!
Next up is the Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener. This little tube is something I thought I’d never use, but I actually have three and I use it on everyone I make up. 
When I’m not wearing any foundation I use this on the top of my nose, on my cheekbones, cupid’s bow and around my eyes. For this look I only used it on my cupid’s bow and on my eye-bone (see picture).
I blend this with my fingers.
Next up I use concealer, the one I’m using for this look is Laura Mercier Undercover Pot in no. 3 which contains the Secret Camouflage and Secret Concealer. 
I tell you more about this product here. I use my fingers to blend the Secret Camouflage and the Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Brush with it’s flat tapered synthetic brushhead. I love how the tip is perfect for concealing blemishes. 
The Secret Concealer is slightly softer then the Secret Camouflage and is perfect for under eye concealing. 
I am more tan thanks to the Self Sun, but I still want a little more contouring under my cheekbones and on my temples. For this I use Chanel Bronze Universel. For darker complexions, try a contouring product by Make Up For Ever, they sell the best makeup for darker skintones. 
I don’t want to contour too much because I’m going for a natural look. On the picture you can see why I almost never use a blusher, I have a natural flush.
You can also see how many more freckles I get in the summer.
Next is powder to set everything. I’ve been using Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder which is in the Laura Mercier Undercover Pot. I tell you more about it here. Up close the powder looks like this (and this is all I used on my entire face). 
I use the Laura Mercier Camouflage Powder Brush for applying powder under the eyes to set the concealer. 
To put the powder on the rest of my face I use the Laura Mercier Velours Puff. I skip powdering my apples and the tops of my cheekbones, I do this because I want these places to have a glow and I know that the makeup won’t budge even without powder. 
To prime my eyes for the eyeshadow I love using the Urban Decay Primer potion. 
I prime my entire eye and what’s left on my fingers I blend under my eye. 
Now I can start with the eye shadows. To start of with I’m using a colour that’s slightly lighter then my skin tone but it’s so sheer that it’s perfect as a colour base. I use an eyeshadow all over my eye because of the primer I used, the primer keeps the eyeshadow longer, but it also makes it harder to blend. Blending is easier if you place a neutral shadow as a base. I’m using Smashbox Vanilla, which is a matte shadow. (Click on the picture to go to the website.)
I use a fluffy shadow brush (by Smashbox) to blend this all over my eyelid. 
Remember to clean your shadow brushes once a week to make sure you work hygienic. 
The thing that I love to do when doing a neutral eye is using shadows to make the eye look more open. The colour I use to manipulate my eye shape is Naked by Urban Decay (click the image). If you don’t have my skincolour, find a colour that’s the same colour as the shadow under your jawline, that’s the perfect colour for contouring the eyesocket.
This colour is slightly darker then my natural skin tone, it’s a matte eyeshadow. 
To place this colour I’m using a stiffer brush, namely the no. 4 Concealer brush by Smashbox. This is a synthetic brush that’s made for concealer and cream eye shadows. This stiffer brush means I get a more precise application and more control over the blending. 
I pack the colour only on one side of the brush and I apply it holding the colour to the eyebrow side of the eye and I’m holding the brush like this:
As you can see I’m applying it on the topside of my crease and I’m only applying it on the outer half of the crease. I then turn the brush a quarter and blend:
Put the side that the eyeshadow was on on the side of the nose. Blend and blend until you get a natural shadow and your eye looks like this:
I wanted a slightly darker brown to make it a little more shaded. I couldn’t find a matte dark brown until I found this brown in the Smashbox Smokey Eyes Eye Shadow Trio which is no longer sold. 
The trio has a champaigne with gold flecks, a aubergine colour and a dark brown with a hint of gold. 
As you can see the gold is almost non existing and I took very little of this on the no. 4 brush. I did the same thing I did with Naked and blended what was left on the brush after blending under my eyes, when I was done my eyes look like this: 
I took up a brown cream eyeliner pencil from Smashbox in the colour Midnight Brown (no longer sold) and used that on my upper waterline pushing it into my eyelashes.
I don’t want anything on my lower waterline because this will close up the eye and it will make the makeup less natural. 
The thing that finishes this makeup is eyelashes. I use my Shu Uemura Eyelashcurler, mini Lancome Cils Booster XL which I got in the Sephora Lashstash Mascara Deluxe Sampler and Rimmel London Secy Curves in waterproof Black.
The Cils Booster XL really makes my lashes appear longer. The best way of showing you is by showing you the picture of my “naked” face and the one after the mascara is applied, which is also the final eye. 
When I close my eyes it looks like this: 
On my lips I’m wearing Urban Decay’s XXX Shine Lipgloss (cooling lip gloss) in Heatherette.
Another tutorial that would work for these types of looks is:
Easy-Peasy Look
Not all wedding looks should have to take HOURS and HOURS to apply, quality trumps quantity and that doesn’t mean you look like you haven’t tried.
Face:
On my Face I’m using Smashbox – Hybrid 2 in 1 Luminizing primer from the Greenroom Collection as a base. For the foundation I’m wearing 50% Lancaster, Infinite Bronze Face Bronzer with 15 SPF mixed with 50% Smashbox, High Definition Healthy FX Foundation in Light L3, I applied this with my fingers to really work it into my skin, making it look more natural. On my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin I used Chanel, Bronze Universal to create a natural bronze look using the Sephora Brand – Professionnel Platinum Stippling Brush no. 44.
Just because you’re bronzing, doesn’t mean you should skip contouring, so I used a no longer sold Smashbox Bronzer/Blush duo called Contour/Pop to contour using the Sephora, Mineral powder brush no. 45. The blush I used is from the Blush/Soft lights Duo (available in the Smashbox Runway Glam Kit), I mixed both colours to create my perfect blush colour.
Go-to Easy-Peasy Eyes: 
On my eyes I’ve got the Urban Decay, Eyeshadow Primer Potion to create an amazing base, over this I used Smashbox, Cream Eyeliner in Cameo with a Smashbox, no. 15 definer brush on my eyelid and under my eye. I blended this really well just over my crease, using more on the inside then on the outside of the crease. On my eyelids I’m wearing Smashbox, Bronze eyeshadow, which is not sold on their website, but they did send me one as a gift, so no idea when they’ll sell it again, it is a lovely colour though. I applied the Bronze with the same brush as the cream eyeliner. Also using the same brush I applied the golden colour from theInstant Eyes Shadow & Liner Palette from the Smashbox Runway Glam Kit on the centre of my eyelid (creating a little more depth). The lightest colour I used under the arch of my brow. To curl my lashes I used the Shu Uemura, Lash curler and the mascara is Dior, Diorsho
w Waterproof in 090 noir.
Lips: 
On my lips I used the darker side from the Fast Track lipgloss, available in the Smashbox Runway Glam Kit. I used a Benefit lipliner to create a more pointy (yet natural) cupid’s bow.
Elephants grey smokey eye
Sometimes you have a wedding day that starts outside and bubbly, but ends in a party that goes into the night. Don’t think that once you put on your make-up you can’t change it later in the day without taking everything off, you can build on old makeup if it stayed put, and if it didn’t you can just clean your eyes and refresh the base there. Another thing to think about is where you apply your makeup, I do it in front of a big window for day wear and under a yellow light for nightwear. I this because this simulates the light I will be in later, and the makeup should look good in that lighting.
Tonight I wanted to show you a quick smokey eye that isn’t too dark and isn’t scary at all, it’s still wedding appropriate.
Products in this picture:
– Neutrogena, PureGlow – Daily cleansing cushions (for dry and sensitive skin)
– Bliss, Sleeping Peel – Age minimizing eyegel
– Sephora, Immediate wrinkle filler
– Benefit, Firmology
Preperation
I started with my normal routine (since this week it’s a routine ). Anyway, I cleaned with the Neutrogena cleansing cushions, then followed with the Bliss age minimizing eye gel and Sephora’s Wrinkle filler. I ended with the Firmology and let that sink in for about 20 minutes. In the morning I never give it 20 minutes to sink in, but it’s supposed to be best, so when I’m not in a hurry I let it sink in.
Products in this picture:
– Smashbox, Hybrid 2 in 1 – Luminizing primer
– Smashbox, High definition healthy FX foundation – Light L3
– Smashbox, Camera ready concealer – 3.0
– Smashbox, Photo op – Under eye brightener
– YSL, Touche Eclat – no. 2
– Benefit, Highbrow
Skin
I started with my favourite primer which I put everywhere except on my lips and on my eye-area, I used it yesterday without anything else and I still looked awake. I followed with the foundation everywhere where I put the primer. I did it with my fingers and used less product then 1 pump. I wanted the foundation to only conceal where I needed it (nose and chin) and the rest was just a wash of colour. I then used the under eye brightener not just under my eye, but on my eye as well. I didn’t wear anything else on my face until I got home and this gave my eyes a little sparkle.
When I got home I used the Touche Eclat to clean up my face a bit, I used it under my eyes and on top of my eyebrow. I drew a line of highbrow under the arc of my eyebrow only because I wanted the smokey to stay smokey.
Products in this picture:
– Urban Decay, Palette (I used the colour Uzi: metallic silver w/ big iridescent sparkles – Item # 34100)
– Smashbox, Eye Shadow Trio – Shutterspeed
– Sephora, Eyelash curler
– Smashbox, Arced Liner brush – no.21
– Sephora Brand Professionnel, Crease Brush – no. 18
– Sephora Brand Professionnel, Rounded Crease Brush – no. 13
– Blinc, Kiss Me Mascara – Black
Eyes
This is a smokey eye that’s smokey, but still pretty and not to dark, which for me means greys. I always look for the perfect mushroom and perfect elephant grey colour. I once had the perfect mushroom colour by No.7 but they don’t make it anymore. Yesterday I found this elephant grey in the Smashbox Shutterspeed trio and now I’m happy. I started by making my rounded crease brush wet (as you can see on the picture I cleaned it after use because I used a wet product on it). When it was wet I made sure it wasn’t dripping and then filled it with the darkest grey in the palette (I always do this in a corner to keep the other half of the colour dry). I gave my lids and a little over my crease a thick layer of this grey colour and then seriously considered to not smoke it out and to leave the harsh line because it was kinda cool. But I decided not to in the end and let the wet dry on my eyes before I took a dry crease brush and dipped it in the dry part of the grey and then going in and over my crease I smudged out the line and went a little more up. I then cleaned the crease brush on a towel and took the middle colour from the same palette (an off white colour with a hint of golden yellow) and took this under by brow and blended down in the grey (to the crease), you take the grey colour down a bit with this down-blending. I used the brush from the Urban Decay palette to take Uzi in the inner corner of my eye for a little sparkle. I took the hooked liner brush with a little Smashbox grey on my waterline. I curled my lashes and followed with the Blinc Mascara, I have a mini and I hate the tube it comes it, but I love the way it looks on my lashes.
Lips
I got a lipstick by L’Oreal Colour Riche Star Secrets a while ago. It’s the colour Doutzen Kroes wears, she describes it as a nude, natural colour, but with a little bit of pink and orange. I personally don’t see the orange in it. It’s for blonds, and I’m really a brunette, but I don’t care, it’s the same colour my lips naturally have, and this is the colour that’s the best nude I’ve ever worn. For the best lipcolour on your skintone, press on your lips for 10 seconds, then let go, the blood will darken the colour of the lips you touched for a short period of time, the colour your lip is then is the perfect colour for you.
Grey/Brown with a hint of Gold look
I did another look for Bellaressa a long time ago when she was in need of a few looks that are easy and great for at work. Also they need to be easily kicked into a night look. I did these looks for her then and I believe this one also applies to this Weddings series.
This post was for a sophisticated fashion event (semi night look because there will probably be no natural light.
This look is a dark grey/brown with a hint of gold smokey eye. I’d pair this with neutral lips.
Preparation
Because I needed a clean radiant face, I used Bliss Sleeping Peel Cleansing Cream to clean and take away dead skin cells. I then used Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief and Clinique Moisture Surge
>Extra Refreshing Eye Gel on my face and Bliss, Thinny Thin Chin on my neck area.
Products in this picture:
- Smashbox, Hybrid 2 in 1 – Luminizing Foundation Primer
- YSL, Teint Parfait – no. 3 Champagne
- YSL, Teint Parfait – no. 7 No. 7 Golden Sand
- Smashbox, Photo Op – Under eye Brightener
- Benefit, Highbrow
Face
When my moisturizer had soaked into my skin I placed a pea sized amount of Hybrid 2 in 1 on my finger and then mixed the two with the ring and middle finger of my other hand and then went over my face. I mixed a little no. 3 and no. 7 Teint Parfait to get a apricot tint with a mild golden shimmer. This made my face look radiant and pretty. With a little Photo Op under my eyes and on top of the lid I was done, no concealer was needed. I used Highbrow under my brows to highlight the brow bone.
- Urban Decay, Urban Survival Kit (using the Primer Potion, colour Midnight Cowgirl: subtle golden-beige w/ gold glitter – Item # 36350)
- Smashbox, Definer Brush no. 15
- Smashbox, Shadow Brush no. 26
- Sephora, Eyelash Curler
- Dior, Diorshow – 090 Black Waterproof
- Guerlain, Ombre Eclat 4 couleurs in 401 Jeu de Nuit (using the red circled colours)
Eyes
I started the eye with a thin layer of Primer Potion as a base on the eye.
I needed a brown grey tone to work well with the gold. I found a great grey when layering the top left grey over the bottom right brown. The Guerlain palette is one of my favourites because a wash of colour makes the colours day wear ready and a thick layer makes it perfect for night. I used the no. 26 shadow brush to place the brown on my eye on the eyelid first, I then cleaned the brush and washed the colour upward over my crease. I then took the same brush and placed the grey colour over the brown, blending it at the crease into the brown, but making sure the brown was still the highest colour on the eye.
I used the grey with the no. 15 definer brush to create a smokey line under my eye that is a little brighter then on top of the eye to make the eye seem more awake.
I then dipped my finger in the Midnight Cowgirl, I used my finger because then you have less fallout. Shake your hand a little to make sure you have no fallout. I know people who blow on the finger to remove the fallout, but that is blowing bacteria on your finger, so if it’s on your own eye, do whatever you like, know it’s bacteria you’re blowing on your finger, but if you don’t care, that’s fine by me, it’s your decision and your eye. If you’re doing makeup on someone else, just shake the hand and make the fallout fall off that way because you don’t want to place your bacteria on the person your doing the makeup on.
I placed the finger then on the centre of the eye and made a small circular motion while pressing, don’t patt it in because you’ll have gold on your cheeks then. Also press a little gold in your inner corner using your pinky.
If I close the finished eye it looks like this: 
I finished the look with curled lashes and waterproof Diorshow in black.
The thing that I would add to all these looks to make them more Jennifer Hudson is a little eyeliner starting halfway on the lid and getting a little thicker on the outside.
* All the information stated above is based on my own experiences, and taken from books like: “Wedding Style” by Carole Hamilton / InStyle Weddings / InStyle Weddings magazines / Getting Gorgeous / Jemma Kidd – Makeup Masterclass / Kevyn Acoin books.
Really nice style and design and fantastic content material , very little else we want : D.